2012 Hangtown Results: James Stewart Wins Outdoor Motocross Season Opener: Chupacabra Strikes

James Stewart made a strong statement at the Hangtown 2012 outdoor motocross season opener. After shocking the motocross community by leaving the Joe Gibbs JGRMX Yamaha Team, Bubba silenced critics with a solid 1-1 victory at Hangtown, aboard his factory Yoshimura Suzuki. The Hangtown track was gnarly, with some seriously deep ruts, dust, roost and heat. Andrew Short got the holeshot in Moto 1 but slipped into a 4th overall finish for the day. KTM’s Ryan Dungey had a horrible moto 1 start, but fought his way up to a 3rd place finish.  Dungey was out to prove his speed though, and was all over the back of Stewart in Moto 2, but fell short of making a pass stick. Dungey got a second overall thanks to his moto 2 2nd place finish. Mike Alessi rounded out the overall podium by riding strong in Moto 2. Stewart’s former JGR teammate Davi Millsaps rode strong all day, with a 2nd overall in Moto 1, but had to settle for a disappointing 14th in Moto 2 after a crash pulled him back. Davi had a phenomenal 2012 Supercross season, finishing a career best 2nd overall. Brett Metcalfe rounded out the top five overall. 39-year-old Ryan Hughes’ stunned many fans by lining up on the gate in the premier class about his Ryno Power YZ 450f. Unfortunately, Hughes crashed hard in Moto 1, followed by more bad luck in Moto 2, to finish 39th. Riding as Ryan Villopoto’s replacement, Tyla Rattray struck misfortune and left the venue with a broken arm. Broc Tickle rode a phenomenal race by placing just outside the top 5 in his first ever 450 outdoor pro race.

Baggett dominated the lites class and lived up to his nickname ‘Chupacabra’ with his notorious late moto charge. No question Mitch Payton was thrilled to finally see a Pro Circuit rider back on top. team Geico’s Justin Barcia took 2nd overall, while German sensation Ken Roczen rounded out the podium for third overall. Ivan Tedesco was a surprise veteran to show up on the gate in the lites class, giving Pro Circuit a 4th overall. The racing in the lites class was intense all day, with one of the fiercest battles occurring on the last lap of Moto 1 between Roczen, Barcia and Baggett…Baggett coming out on top. After a horrible first moto, Justin Bogle charged to a 7th in Moto 2. Martin Davalos and Blake Wharton had similar stories. Eli Tomac looked strong, with a 4th place in Moto 1, only to finish a disappointing 10th 2nd moto. Most disappointing was news of Dean Wilson’s DNF. The 2011 Lites Champion was forced to pull out for the day due to his aggravated shoulder. Rumor is he will be heading to the surgery room and may be out for the 2012 season.

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2012 AMA Motocross Hangtown 450 Results
1. James Stewart, 1-1
2. Ryan Dungey, 3-2
3. Mike Alessi, 7-3
4. Andrew Short, 5-4
5. Brett Metcalfe, 4-5
6. Broc Tickle, 6-7
7. Davi Millsaps, 2-14
8. Jake Weimer, 10-6
9. Josh Grant, 9-8
10. Nico Izzi, 11-10,
11. Kyle Chisholm 13-9
12. Robert Kiniry, 12-13
13. Jimmy Albertson, 17-12
14. Tommy Hahn, 8-27
15. Matt Lemoine, 19-11
16. Vince Friese,  15-18
17. Sean Collier, 14, 24
18. Ryan Sipes, 25-15
19. Justin Brayton, 24-16
20. Nick Wey, 16-36

2012 AMA Motocross Hangtown Lites Results:
1. Blake Baggett, 1-1
2. Justin Barcia, 3-2
3. Ken Roczen, 2-3
4. Ivan Tedesco, 6-5
5. Eli Tomac, 4-10
6. Martin Davalos, 14-4
7. Kyle Cunningham, 9-8
8. Jason Anderson, 8-9
9. Marvin Musquin, 5-14
10. Wil Hahn, 7-13
11. Jake Canada, 10-11
12. Blake Wharton, 16-6
13. Travis Baker, 15-12
14. Gareth Swanepoel, 12-15
15. Justin Bogle, 21-7
16. Jessy Nelson, 13-17
17. Kyle Peters, 11-30
18. Hunter Hewitt, 17-16
19. AJ Cantazaro, 18-18
20. Shane Sewell, 19-19